It's a Holiday Inn, so you shouldn't be expecting The Ritz.

The Venue
The Holiday Inn Mayfair's Nightingale Bar and Lounge is a Miss Haversham-like venue. Its fixtures and fittings are quite posh - ornate crystal chandeliers, swooping drapes and elaborate ceiling and wall panels, but these features are at odds with the smoky dark mirrors, coloured spots over the bar and general sense of it having seen better days. The furniture is a bit faded and the muted TV in the corner is a distraction.

The Atmosphere
The staff at Nightingale Bar and Lounge are very polite and eager to do what they can. The clientele seems to be exclusively travelling salesman types without very good expense accounts; plenty of people chat in their mobiles as they pass the time. The fact of the matter is it feels a bit seedy, but then London has become so homogenised that there is something oddly comfortable in its shabbiness. No one is here to impress so you might as well make yourself comfortable.

The Food
There is a full dining menu in the restaurant with brunch items, hot and cold foods and desserts. Over ten quid each for fish and chips and a beef burger seems a bit steep.

The Drink
There is a good wine menu with plenty of choice and adequate descriptions. Many are available by the glass. Prices on bottles of wine are reasonable with many bottles under £20. Draught beers and plenty of spirits will cover most tastes.

The Last Word
Nightingale Bar and Lounge is a perfectly acceptable bar with friendly service, but it is a bit of a dump. Fine if you are staying at the hotel, but it's hardly worth seeking out.

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